Labour Youth calls for free contraception
national |
gender and sexuality |
press release 
Wednesday March 07, 2007 16:01
by Labour Youth
Responding to Health Minister Mary Harney’s statement earlier this week that she would consider lifting VAT on condoms, labour Youth have called on the Government to introduce universal provision of free contraception.
Labour Youth Vice-Chair, Neil Ward, commented “Condoms are more expensive in Ireland than in any other European country. To redress the balance Labour Youth called for provision of free contraception in our pre-budget submission of November last year.
“If the Government is serious about tackling Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), then they must show their commitment by not simply lifting VAT on condoms, but by providing them free of charge.
“Labour Youth believe that the state should help ensure that all citizens are protected from STIs and unplanned pregnancies by making contraception available without cost to the individual.”
ENDS
For further information please contact Neil Ward 085 713 4159
Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6Fair play to Labour youth,
Its great to see a youth group working on behalf of their people, rather than acting for individual self promotion.
Labour youth, alongside republican and some of the other left wing groups are a real credit to this country. Fair play!
Labour Youth should be calling for a lifting of VAT on food, childrens shoes and clothing, school books, ESB etc etc and lead the way for their grown up version to start acting like a left wing party.
Condoms should be free as should health care at point of access and all vital services.
Typical of Labour to shout about free condoms on the Health Service when the real issue is the ongoing privatisation of Health under the present Minister. The growth of the for-profit sector in Health has excelerated dramatically under this Minister to the extent that they now have annual conference. The 2nd conference will be held in the Burlington Hotel on the 21st March. All the usual blood suckers and parasites will be there to plan how to further profit from peoples pain and suffering. And this conference will actually be opened by none other than the Minister herself. At a time when the Health Service, for which she is supposed to be responsible, is collapsing, she makes time to hobnob with her friends in big business. Will Labour Youth consider a protest at this gathering? Action. Words are cheap
Obviously keen listeners of Today FM's Ray Darcy show.
"Labour Youth should be calling for a lifting of VAT on food, childrens shoes and clothing, school books, ESB"
Lifting VAT on certain foods would be a good idea but I'd be opposed to a blanket removal - there isn't much good in removing VAT on big macs and fizzy drinks for example.
Agree completely with lifting VAT on kids clothes, shoes and school books.
ESB? I think I'd prefer an energy quota for each individual in the state to be implemented first. Aside from the need for the country's overall energy use to be reduced, I don't want to see rich millionaires in their 10,000 sq ft houses getting cheaper electricity. A quota would be a better system. Everyone gets a quota of ESB and those who exceed it pay double/triple/quadruple whatever.
Yes I agree with everything you said, I didn’t expand on how this could be implemented because I was just trying to illustrate LY’s monothematic thinking on this.
Lifting VAT on food would of course exclude fast food, unhealthy processed food etc etc. This will make healthy food cheaper and incentivise those who manufacture processed food to male it healthier
Energy conservation is necessary but the poor have been walloped with the ESB’s latest price hike and especially in Winter. As well as a quota perhaps a waiver for the unwaged and pensioners and a progressive means test up to the average industrial wage for complete VAT exemption?
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